Re: Which Bill Adkins is which?

Weltha ADKINS was born November 1892 and deid before 1960. She married Millard Franklin ELKINS/Millard Filmore ELKINS 17 March 1910 in Lincoln County, West Virginia, son of Joseph Marion ELKINS and Nancy Emerine ELKINS. He was born 3 June 1888 in Lincoln County, West Virginia and died 30 January 1974 at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Wealtha Adkins and Millard Elkins were divorced. She married Gilbert MCCOMAS 8 October 1923 in Logan County, West Virginia, son of William Henry MCCOMAS and Ann Eliza RAKES. Gilbert was born about 1895 in Lincoln County, West Virginia and died 16 February 1960 at Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia. Wealtha married Unknown PORTER, according to the Adkins book, page 169*. [*I have found no record of a marriage to a Porter.]

West Virginia Vital Research Records show the marriage certificate of Millard Elkins 22 and Wealtha Adkins 17 on 17 March 1910 by John Gartin, Minister, at the home of L. C. Gartin. Both the bride and groom were born in Lincoln County and both lived at Wewanta, Lincoln County, West Virginia. Information on the certificate was provided by W. A. Adkins.

Note: The Wealtha Adkins who married Millard Elkins is probably the daughter of William A. Adkins and Eliza A. Gartin. First, the informant was W. A. Adkins, presumably the bride’s father—but he might be William Aaron Adkins, son of Burwell. Second, the marriage was held at the residence of L. C. Gartin, no doubt Lewis Cass Gartin, the bride’s maternal grandfather.

Millard Franklin Elkins also married Grace Jones Steele, born 22 October 1897 in Catlettsburg, Boyd County, Kentucky and died 5 June 1975 at Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia. She was a daughter of Samuel Jones and Emma Unknown and had been married to Alonzo Steele.

Note: The Adkins book, page 169 lists: William Aude Adkins born August 1869 and died about 1960; son of Hezekiah Adkins and Liza Elkins. He married Eliza A. Gartin, born Nov. 1874, daughter of Caa and Rhoda. Their children: Wealthy, born November 1892; married Unknown Porter. Caroline, born July 1894, married George F. Farley; Delbert born 1896, married Parisee Vance; Vinson, born April 1898. Wilda, married Unknown White. Jink. Bessie, married Shafer McNeely. Alice, married Earl Bills. Fannie, married Joe Neace.

On page 292, the Adkins book lists: William Aaron Adkins, born Lincoln County, West Virginia on 11 September 1872, son of Burrell Adkins and Malissa Adkins. He married Eliza ____; he married second Cora Lilly. Children of William Aaron Adkins: Wealtha, born about 1893, married Millard Elkins; Caroline, born about 1895; Lewis Delbert, born about 1896; Vinson, born about 1898 and died before 1910.

Note the similarity of the children’s names and birthdates for the two men named William A. Adkins.

West Virginia Vital Research Records list the marriage of Gilbert McComas 28, single, and Weltha Adkins 31, divorced. Both were born in West Virginia and both lived at Braeholm, West Virginia. He was a son of W. H. McComas and Liza Rakes. She was a daughter of W. A. Adkins and Eliza Gartin. The groom was a miner. The marriage was performed by J. E. Ellis.

West Virginia Vital Research Records show the death of Gilbert McComas, widowed, who died 16 February 1960 at the age of 64 years, 9 months, and 9 days of arteriosclerotic heart disease at Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia. Note: No record was found for Weltha McComas.

The World War I draft registration card [Logan County, West Virginia] for Millard Franklin Elkins 29 of Omar, West Virginia states that he was born 3 June 1888 at Ranger {Lincoln County], West Virginia. He was employed “firing log engine” at Peytona Lumber Company, address illegible. He listed as dependents his mother and one child. He was tall and slender with brown hair and brown eyes.

The World War II draft registration card for Millard Franklin Elkins 53 of Erin, McDowell County, West Virginia [mailing address: Roderfield, McDowell County] states that he was born 3 June 1888 at Ranger, West Virginia. He was employed at Scott and Groseclose, Hemphill, West Virginia. The person who will always know his address was Grace Elkins of Roderfield.

An Ancestry.com post lists the following children for William Aaron Elkins and Weltha Adkins: Emerine, born 3 February 1911; Hazel, born 27 January 1912; Carlos, born 5 November 1912; Homer, born 10 August 1914 and died 16 March 1961 in Lincoln County, West Virginia. Note: I have found no census records for these offspring and no other records, except for Homer, below.

The Social Securiy Death Index lists Homer Elkins, born 10 August 1914 and died March 1961. SSN issued in West Virginia before 1951.

West Virginia Vital Research Records list the death of Homer Elkins, married, a miner, who died 16 March 1961 at the age of 46 years, 6 months, and 7 days in Wayne County of cirrhosis of the liver. He was a son of Millard Elkins and Wealthy Adkins. Informant was E. L. Walsh, M. D.

U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, list Homer Elkins, white, citizen, born 1914 in West Virginia, a resident of West Virginia, who enlisted 13 March 1945 at Huntington, West Virginia. He had a grammar school education and his civilian occupation was semiskilled chauffeur or driver. He was single and without dependents.

The WWI Lincoln County, West Virginia draft registration card for Gilbert McComas, Ranger, West Virginia states that he was born 24 April 1895 at Ranger, West Virginia. He was single and a farmer. He was tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and dark hair—not bald.

The Social Security Death Index lists Millard Elkins, born 3 June 1888 and died January 1974. His last residence was at Roderfield, McDowell County, West Virginia. His SSN was issued in West Virginia before 1951.

The 1900 census for Harts Creek District, Lincoln County, West Virginia lists: Marion Elkins 42, born August 1857; Nancy E. Elkins 38, born October 1861; Lelia B. Elkins 17, born November 1882; James M. Elkins 14, born September 1885; Millard F. Elkins, 12, born June 1887; Lusanda E. Elkins [Lucinda E. Elkins] 11, born April 1889; Sarah F. Elkins 9, born March 1891; William Elkins 7, born April 1893; Mistia L. Elkins 4, born September 1895; Havena Elkins [Havana Elkins] 1, born November 1898.